What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon and boron.
Not in the score: potassium and sulphur.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 42
- nutrients checked
- 10
This shows what soil in this area tends to be like. Your own field can be different. Get it tested at a soil testing lab before deciding.
Nutrient by nutrient
-
Poor
Nitrogen
From 42 soil tests
Low 95% Medium 5%
Almost every soil test here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
What this means
Grows leaves and stems. Short soil gives pale, yellow leaves.
Low under 280 kg/ha Medium 280–560 kg/ha High over 560 kg/haHealthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 95% 5% 0% English Bazar 88% 12% 0% Malda 94% 6% 0% West Bengal 39% 58% 3% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 42 soil tests
Low 19% Medium 52% High 29%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
What this means
Builds roots and helps the crop flower and fill grain.
Low under 10 kg/ha Medium 10–25 kg/ha High over 25 kg/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 19% 52% 29% English Bazar 7% 24% 69% Malda 4% 17% 79% West Bengal 7% 21% 72% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Organic carbon
From 42 soil tests
Low 64% Medium 29% High 7%
6 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
What this means
Shows how much organic matter the soil has. It keeps soil loose, holds water and feeds the crop slowly.
Low under 0.5% Medium 0.5–0.75% High over 0.75%Healthy soil has 0.5% or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 64% 29% 7% English Bazar 43% 35% 22% Malda 57% 31% 12% West Bengal 25% 41% 33% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 42 soil tests
Neutral 100%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineIn these tests, neutral means about pH 6 to 8, which suits most crops; acidic is below about 6 and alkaline above about 8.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% English Bazar 1% 99% 0% Malda 11% 88% 1% West Bengal 27% 73% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 42 soil tests
Not salty 98% Salty 2%
Almost no soil tests here came out salty
What this means
Salt in the soil, shown as EC on the card. Salt makes it hard for roots to drink.
Not salty SaltyUnder 1 dS/m is fine. Between 1 and 4, only crops that can't take salt lose yield. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 98% 2% English Bazar 98% 2% Malda 97% 3% West Bengal 95% 5% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Zinc
From 42 soil tests
Short 33% Enough 67%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
What this means
Needed for growth and healthy leaves. Rice and wheat often run short.
Short under 0.6 ppm Enough 0.6 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 33% 67% English Bazar 16% 84% Malda 15% 85% West Bengal 24% 76% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 42 soil tests
Short 12% Enough 88%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
What this means
Keeps young leaves green.
Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 12% 88% English Bazar 8% 92% Malda 4% 96% West Bengal 1% 99% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 42 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Helps the crop set seed and resist disease.
Short under 0.2 ppm Enough 0.2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% English Bazar 0% 100% Malda 0% 100% West Bengal 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Manganese
From 42 soil tests
Short 40% Enough 60%
4 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
What this means
Helps leaves make food from sunlight.
Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 40% 60% English Bazar 27% 73% Malda 15% 85% West Bengal 11% 89% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 42 soil tests
Short 95% Enough 5%
Almost every soil test here came out short
If your field is short: mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
What this means
Needed for flowers to set seed and fruit.
Short under 0.5 ppm Enough 0.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 95% 5% English Bazar 96% 4% Malda 98% 2% West Bengal 62% 38% India 44% 56%
The tests here for potassium and sulphur look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.
Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 42 samples.
Climate in Malda
Rain
About 1,310 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,170 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 35 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 24 °C, nights 10 °C.
Typical of the district's villages; a farm much higher or lower can be a few degrees cooler or warmer.
Source: IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°); TerraClimate 1991–2020 temperature normals (about 4 km), where each district's villages are.